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♪ theme music ♪
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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
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an in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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We are in the middle
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of an amazing, life-changing series
of studies
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on the book of Daniel.
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Today we're studying Daniel, chapter 9,
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and the topic, From Confession
to Consolation.
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I'm excited because Stephanie
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is going to be leading our study.
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I know it's going to be a great blessing.
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So, welcome to you
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and welcome to our team.
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We're always happy to hear from you.
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What's been the greatest blessing
in this series?
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(Nicole) Victories in Jesus.
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(Derek) Yes, just realizing
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that Jesus is at the center,
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the Messiah, the One who is to come,
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the Prince of the host,
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and we've discovered that Jesus wins.
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That's good news, isn't it?
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We're always happy to hear from you,
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our Hope Sabbath School viewers.
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Leila writes to us
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from British Columbia in Canada;
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thanks for writing to us.
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"Hello, Hope Sabbath School members."
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(Team) Hello.
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(Derek) "Just wanted to say
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that every week I'm watching
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Hope Sabbath School;
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sometimes I watch it twice.
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God bless you all.
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I'd also like to share with you
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that I accepted Jesus about one year ago."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Isn't that awesome?!
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And I just want to affirm you, Leila,
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for studying the Word of God
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to help you grow strong in the Lord.
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I love what it says next,
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"Since that day, I have
found peace in my life."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "Peace in God is an experience
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that no one and nothing
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can take away from me.
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This is an amazing experience
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I never had before.
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I thank God for His unconditional love
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and saving me, no matter
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how far I was from Him."
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This is powerful, isn't it?
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"The first thing that made me curious
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about the Seventh-day Adventist Church
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was hearing the word 'Sabbath'
from a friend,
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and the conversation
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led me to search for God.
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At that time, I was being accused,
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insulted and rejected by my loved one,
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was feeling hopeless and desperate,
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but God who created me and loved me
has saved me."
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) I think that's a preacher
right there.
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"I am a precious child of God."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Well, thank you so much
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for writing to us Leila;
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that is so powerful.
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I am praying someone heard your testimony
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and said, "Oh, Lord, do You
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feel that way about me, too?"
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and what's the answer?
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(Team) Yes.
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(Derek) Absolutely. Absolutely.
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Here's a short note from Franck
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in Massachusetts in the United States
of America,
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"Good job, brothers and sisters in Christ.
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Keep up the good work until Jesus returns,
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and you will all be rewarded.
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I would love to join you one day.
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May the Lord bless you all."
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What is our reward when Jesus comes?
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(Travis) Jesus.
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(Derek) Just being with Jesus. Absolutely.
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Thanks for writing to us.
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Here is another note
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from Trinidad and Tobago.
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We had one of those just recently.
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Garnet writes to us, "Hi,
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Hope Sabbath School members."
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(Team) Hi.
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(Derek) "Just letting you know
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that the lessons have been
a blessing to me
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and to my Sabbath School class
in Trinidad.
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We also have a link to the weekly study
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on our church website,
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so anyone visiting our church website
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can click on Hope Sabbath School."
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What a great idea.
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"Thanks for making a difference
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in our study of the Bible," praise God.
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Here's a note from a donor in Georgia.
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I want to just say thank you
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to all of our donors;
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it's a donor-supported ministry.
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Here's a note that says, "We have been
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contributing 25 dollars a month
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to Hope Channel; we love Hope
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and particularly like Hope Sabbath School.
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God bless you all."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) You know, we are all part
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of a great miracle, aren't we?
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And I'm just thankful
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to each of our donors.
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To this couple in Georgia,
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thank you for being part
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of this great miracle of God.
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And one from the other side of the world,
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from Patrick in Vanuatu,
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way over in the South Pacific,
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"Hi, Hope Sabbath School team."
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(Team) Hi!
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(Derek) I think they say that
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just so that we'll smile
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and wave at them, right?
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"I've learned about your program
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for the past two years;
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I started downloading the series to watch.
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I never get tired of repeating
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the same series for the week.
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I watch it over and over again."
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That's a great way to learn, isn't it?
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"I wish we would follow the same outline
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in our Sabbath School class at church."
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Well, I've got good news for you, Patrick.
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You can go to our website,
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hopetv.org/hopess;
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you can download the outline.
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We do that at the small church
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that I attend each week,
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and we give a copy
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to everyone who is participating.
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So, think about that.
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"Lives are transformed,
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and I personally understand
the Bible better
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than studying by myself.
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I praise God for the lovely members,
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and most of all for our great teacher,
the Holy Spirit."
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) We were hoping
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he'd say that, right? Absolutely.
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We're part of the team,
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but He's the Great Teacher.
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"Keep witnessing for the Lord
until He comes."
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Well, Patrick, thanks for writing
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to us from Vanuatu.
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We've got Hope Sabbath School members
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in over 200 countries
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around the world now,
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and we are glad that you're part
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of our Hope Sabbath School family,
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and we're going to ask you
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to sing a song with us now.
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You can download it from our website,
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but you probably have already learned it.
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Written by the prophet Daniel,
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a little tune by my wife
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to help us to memorize it.
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Let's sing it together.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) That song just makes us
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want to praise God, doesn't it?
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Stephanie, why don't you lead us in prayer
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as we begin our study today.
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(Stephanie) It does make us
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want to praise God; let's pray.
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Dear Heavenly Father,
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Lord, thank You so much
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that You are the source
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of wisdom and knowledge.
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We ask that You would be with us today;
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teach us from Your Word, that we would
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not only have a head knowledge,
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but our hearts would be energized
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for who You are and what You've done
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and what You will be doing.
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In Jesus' name. Amen.
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(Derek, Team) Amen.
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(Stephanie) Our study today
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is in Daniel, chapter 9,
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and I'd like us to start out in verse 1.
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John, if you would be prepared
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to read that for us,
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Daniel, chapter 9, verse 1.
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And as we're listening to this verse,
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keep in mind, or think about,
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what the setting is for Daniel, chapter 9.
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(John) All right, reading
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from the King James Version,
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Daniel 9, verse 1, says:
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(Stephanie) All right.
What have you learned
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in just that first verse?
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(Gladys) It was not Babylon anymore;
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it had just moved to the Medes
and the Persians.
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(Stephanie) So it's not Babylon.
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(Travis) We've passed chapter 5
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in the chronological order
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in the book of Daniel.
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(Stephanie) That's right, so let's
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kind of do a quick review of chapter 5.
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What happened in chapter 5?
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Babylon was still in reign, right?
Who was the king?
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(Gladys) Belshazzar.
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(Stephanie) Belshazzar, and he has a feast
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in Daniel, chapter 5.
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Then there's, what, writing on the wall?
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Okay, and who came
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to give the interpretation?
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(Team) Daniel.
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(Stephanie) Daniel, okay.
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And then, that interpretation,
was it fulfilled?
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(Team) Yes.
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(Stephanie) It was, so what happened
that night?
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(Derek, Stephanie, Team) Babylon fell.
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(Stephanie) The beginning
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of Daniel, chapter 6, what do we see?
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(Team Member) Darius as king.
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(Stephanie) We see Darius, right?
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And he comes to the throne,
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and he is setting up his kingdom.
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And who does he set on top?
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(Stephanie, Team) Daniel.
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(Stephanie) What does that do
to the others?
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(Team) Jealousy.
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(Stephanie) Some jealousy.
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What happens as a result of that?
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(Team) A plot.
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(Stephanie) There's a plot,
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but there's a decree, right?
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(Team) Yes.
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(Stephanie) What is
the decree, specifically?
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(Gladys) Worship, whoever worships
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anybody besides the king.
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(Stephanie) Worship, but what aspect
of worship?
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(Team) Prayer.
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(Stephanie) Prayer and supplication.
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"Do not make any other supplication
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to anyone other than King Darius."
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This is about the same time frame
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as we look at Daniel, chapter 9, okay?
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Daniel, chapter 9, let's go back
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and look at verses 2 and 3.
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And, Nicole, would you read that for us?
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Daniel, chapter 9, verses 2 and 3,
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what does the Bible say?
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(Nicole) The New King James Version says:
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(Stephanie) All right, what is
Daniel doing here?
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(Gladys) He's humbling himself.
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(Stephanie) He's humbling himself.
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He's studying the Word of God with prayer.
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What was it that he was
studying in Jeremiah?
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Let's turn over to Jeremiah, chapter 25,
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and look at verses 11 and 12. Derek.
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(Derek) While they are about to read that,
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I think a crucial lesson,
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and it relates to Hope Sabbath School,
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even though he's receiving
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special revelations from God,
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he's still wanting to study,
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both the Hebrew Scriptures
that are existing
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and even a contemporary prophet.
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Jeremiah is receiving messages
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from the Lord, too.
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So it tells me, we all
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have more to learn, right?
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And he's got a teachable spirit.
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(Stephanie) Amen. Thank you.
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Jeremiah 25, looking at verses 11 and 12,
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and, Gladys, would you read that for us?
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(Gladys) Sure.
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(Stephanie) As Gladys is reading,
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let's ask ourselves the question,
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what is that revelation
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that is being revealed to Daniel?
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(Gladys) I'll be reading
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from the book of Jeremiah,
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in the New International Version,
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chapter 25, verses 11 and 12:
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(Stephanie) All right, and let's
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move over to Jeremiah 29, verse 10,
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and, Evelyn, would you read that for us?
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Jeremiah 29, verse 10.
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(Evelyn) I'll be reading
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from the New King James Version:
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(Stephanie) That was
a beautiful promise, wasn't it?
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So, what is it that was revealed
to Jeremiah
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that Daniel was studying,
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that it was becoming clear to him?
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(John) The number of years that Jerusalem
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would be captives in Babylon.
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(Stephanie) All right, what value
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was that to him at that time?
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Can you tell me the time frame?
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(Derek) Well, it's about the end
of that 70 years.
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I'm sure Daniel is thinking,
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"I get to go home," because he was
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a teenager when he was taken
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as a prisoner of war.
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As it is, God has another special work
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for him to do in the next kingdom.
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But I can imagine on a personal level
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that he was thinking, "We get to go home,"
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after all of this time.
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(Stephanie) So he knew
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that the time was coming
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for them to be able to go back
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or go out of captivity.
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Why is it that prayer is important
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when we are seeking to understand
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God's Word and His will?
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Because that's what Daniel was doing.
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He was praying, in addition
to studying. Alex.
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(Alex) I think a lot of times,
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when we think of stuff without praying,
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our personal desires come into play.
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I could even think
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that I'm acting on my own
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or acting on what is right,
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but without taking it to prayer,
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I really may not be in line
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with what God wants for me.
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(Stephanie) So, putting us
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in alignment with God's will
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and understanding it? Gladys?
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(Gladys) Well, this is God's Word,
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and He's the better Translator.
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There are a lot of things that we are
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not going to be able to understand,
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but this is His Word.
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So it's best to go back to Him and say,
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"What is the message
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that I need to understand right now?"
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(Stephanie) Yes, Shaina?
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(Shaina) So, praying is communicating
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with the One who knows all things,
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the Omniscient One,
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so it's like fact-checking
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to make sure that my steps are ordered,
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I am going in the right way.
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(Stephanie) So it sounds like Daniel
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was on the right track, right?
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(Derek) Absolutely.
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(Stephanie) Travis.
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(Travis) We just read in Jeremiah,
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Jeremiah had wrote that God had said,
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"You'll find Me if you search for Me
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with all your heart.
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I will be found by you,"
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So Daniel in his innocence
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is just claiming the promises
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that Jeremiah had written.
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So he's claiming Scripture, the promise,
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"Lord, You said You would restore us."
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(Stephanie) So, Daniel...
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This is not the first time
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Daniel is about to pray, right,
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but this is the longest prayer
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that's recorded for Daniel.
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Where else have you seen Daniel praying
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and making supplication? Rodney.
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(Rodney) In Daniel 2.
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(Stephanie) Daniel, chapter 2,
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what was happening then?
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(Rodney) His life was about to be ended
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among many other...
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(Team Member) Wise men.
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(Rodney) ....wise men.
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And when the news came to him
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that, "Okay, it's time for you to die,"
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he asked for more time.
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And he went to his friends, and said,
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"Friends, please pray with me
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so that the Lord will reveal the vision
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so that I can report back to the king."
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(Stephanie) And after he receives that
in the night,
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what does he do?
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He praises the Lord, exactly.
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John, did you have a comment?
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(John) No, that was it.
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(Stephanie) All right. Very good.
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So, where else do we see? Yes, Kim.
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(Kim) In Daniel, chapter 6,
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as we just spoke about earlier.
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When the king sets out the decree
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for nobody to petition to any god
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or any person but him,
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Daniel still goes to his window and prays.
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(Stephanie) That is faith
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and trust in God, isn't it?
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(Derek) And it happens
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all the way back in chapter 1
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when he purposes in his heart
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that he will not defile himself.
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And you know that before he asks
the steward,
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because he gets turned down
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by the chief of the eunuchs, right?
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When he asks the steward,
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you know he's praying,
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because, "God, I want to honor You
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but I need divine help."
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So I see him even as a teenager,
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and like Kim said,
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all the way up to now, he's older,
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but he's developed this life practice
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of staying in communication with God.
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(Stephanie) This is a way of life.
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What can we learn from that?
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(Gladys) More prayer, more power.
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(Stephanie) More prayer,
more power. Evelyn?
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(Evelyn) I think also something admirable
about Daniel
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is that he's praising God
even when he's facing
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a really scary or devastating situation.
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I mean, I know that's not easy to do,
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to say, "Thank You, God.
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Even though something bad
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is going to happen,
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or this bad situation is going on,
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I praise You for what You have done
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and what You're going to do for me."
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(Derek) Amen.
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(Stephanie) Notice in verse 3,
he prayed with...
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How does it describe his prayer?
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(Gladys) Fasting, sackcloth...
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(Stephanie) With fasting,
sackcloth, ashes.
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What is the significance
of that? Kenneth.
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(Kenneth) Humbling himself before God
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and not thinking that somehow
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he has a righteousness of his own
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to stand before God and to boast.
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But going down, humbling himself,
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and allowing God to do what He does best.
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(Stephanie) Yes, thank you, Kenneth.
Gladys.
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(Gladys) In the past,
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whenever they used a sackcloth
and the ashes,
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that was a sign of pain and suffering,
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and kind of like stripping yourself
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from anything that would be self.
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More like, relying completely on God.
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(Derek) I think it's important
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to realize, Stephanie, that it's
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not like some kind of self-punishment
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or flagellation or something,
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where, you think with Jonah and Nineveh,
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it's a sign of true repentance.
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When you repent with sackcloth and ashes,
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it's not like, "Dear God,
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help me to have a nice day. Amen."
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It's a heartfelt, genuine repentance.
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And what's interesting is there's
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no record of Daniel committing sins.
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Now, I'm sure he made mistakes,
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but he's actually repenting
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for his whole nation,
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not just for himself.
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(Stephanie) Yes, and we are
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going to look at that for sure. Travis.
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(Travis) I'm just going to say, too,
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there's a mourning, you know,
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it's a time of mourning, too,
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the way he's praying.
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And I've always thought of ashes to be...
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it's always mentioned with dust,
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and by putting that on their head,
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it's like, "Lord, I know
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that I'm made of dust."
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And so it's just this really incredible
sign of humility,
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like, "I know that You're my Creator,"
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that, "I only exist because of You."
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(Stephanie) And fasting also,
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another aspect is, fasting is helpful
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to clear our minds so that we're
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in tune and focused with God.
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Let's go into this prayer,
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and we'll look at Daniel, chapter 9,
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verse 4 and then verses 5 through 14.
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Evelyn, if you would read verse 4,
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and then, Nicole, if you would read
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verses 5 through 14,
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and, Abigail, if you would be prepared
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to read 15 through 19.
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Let's take a look at this prayer
in segments.
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(Evelyn) All right, and I'll be reading
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from the New King James Version:
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(Stephanie) What does that verse
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tell you about Daniel?
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(Gladys) He praises God,
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he's acknowledging who God is.
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(Stephanie) He is acknowledging
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who God is, absolutely.
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Let's go to verses 5 through 14, Nicole?
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(Nicole) The New King James Version
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of Daniel 9:5-14 says:
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(Stephanie) What do you see
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Daniel doing in this passage? Rodney.
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(Rodney) I'm just blown away
by his humility.
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He is saying "we," and from all
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that we have read so far,
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we have seen that Daniel
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has been an upright man.
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He wasn't sinless, but he was upright.
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And he is saying, "We have sinned,"
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and, "We have committed..."
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Not they, "They, Lord,
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they are the ones that..."
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He's including himself because he sees;
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he's humbling himself before God
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because the same prayer
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that he has for his fellowmen
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he has for himself; great humility.
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(Stephanie) On that note, it does appear
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that he's identifying himself
with their sins.
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Why? Why would Daniel
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ask for forgiveness of sins
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that he did not commit?
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(Derek) That's a good question, Stephanie,
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because when his enemies
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put his life under a microscope,
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they're unable to find any fault with him
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except that he's fully devoted
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to the God of Heaven.
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But I think he's demonstrating
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the humility of saying, "I am
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as much in need of a Messiah,
of a Redeemer,
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as anyone else," which is true
for all of us.
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(Stephanie) Yes, for all of us, exactly.
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What else do you see
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Daniel doing in this passage?
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It's definitely confession, right? John.
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(John) He sees himself
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as one with God's people,
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and that's what you see.
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When you do that, just as Christ,
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you identify with them,
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then you can take upon, you know,
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almost the guilt because of that.
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And so I see confession,
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but he's also pleading
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on God's goodness and His mercy.
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(Stephanie) We'll get to you, Travis.
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Why do you think it's important
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to focus on God's mercy and his goodness
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instead of our shortcomings,
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our sins and our needs?
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(Gladys) It gives us hope.
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(Stephanie) Gladys? Hope,
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It gives us hope. Kim.
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(Kim) Sometimes when we focus on our sins,
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we can focus too much on the guilt.
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But when we focus on God,
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we know that He forgives us,
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and He can also help us
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to overcome sins in our life.
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(Stephanie) Amen. Kenneth.
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(Kenneth) When we focus on our sins,
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we make our sins greater than God,
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and, you know, we make God
less of something.
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But when we focus on God,
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we see, though we have sinned,
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we know that in His hand
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are mercy and forgiveness, and He is able
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to redeem us and forgive us.
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(Stephanie) Amen. Derek.
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(Derek) I saw Shaina's hand, too,
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but I just want to say
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there is a place for confession of sin.
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The Bible says, "If we confess our sins,
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He is faithful and just."
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The issue is, is that all we do?
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"Oh, I did this sin; I did that sin;
I did..."
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I think that's depressing.
-
I think, by beholding all of that sin,
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we stay focused on it.
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So it's good to recognize
-
where we're out of harmony with God.
-
That's what confession is, right?
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But then we turn our eyes toward Jesus,
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who is the One who can
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forgive us and cleanse us.
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Or, of course, he's looking forward
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to the Messiah to come.
-
So, I think, yeah, don't stay there,
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but it is important to recognize
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where we need forgiveness.
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(Stephanie) So he acknowledged
-
at the very beginning who God was,
-
and now He's essentially acknowledging
who man is.
-
They are weak, right?
-
But he's focusing, again, on God. Travis.
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(Travis) Well, I just kind of agree
-
with everything everyone's been saying,
-
but he acknowledges, he tells God,
-
"You said this would happen,
-
and now it's happened, but You also said
-
that You would have mercy."
-
So he's acknowledging
-
that what God has said
-
would happen all along,
-
but at the end of his prayer,
-
he's just claiming the mercies
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that God has also promised.
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So, as Derek mentioned,
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when we confess our sins,
-
we're looking to God the whole time,
-
but we can also claim
-
the promises that He has,
-
and we can rejoice
-
because we have a Savior who loves us
-
and has promised to redeem us.
-
(Stephanie) Very true. So, Abigail,
-
if you would take us to that last portion
-
that Travis referred to,
-
verses 15 through 19.
-
(Abigail) Okay, and I'll be reading
-
from the New Living Translation:
-
(Stephanie) What impresses you the most
-
about this intercessory prayer
of Daniel? Kenneth.
-
(Kenneth) It's not even about the people,
-
but because of God's name.
-
(Stephanie) He's claiming the promises
-
and provisions, right?
-
Not just the promises
-
but the provisions. Rodney.
-
(Rodney) This sounds like
-
he knows God very well.
-
The language that is used;
-
it's like he's talking
-
to a Friend, a Father.
-
It's like, "Please..."
-
It's just amazing to see
-
how he goes through and intercedes
-
on behalf of the people.
-
And the language, the actual language
used - very personal.
-
So he had that relationship with his God.
-
(Stephanie) That is beautiful.
Nicole. Thank you.
-
(Nicole) It's funny, he's
-
where we should be.
-
You can tell that he dislikes sin.
-
He's like, "This is horrible,
-
but, Lord, You are who You say You are."
-
And so, we should be at a point
-
where, even if we're not involved
-
in some of the activities of the world,
-
we despise what's going on around us
-
so much that we are pleading to God
-
to please do what only He can do for us,
including ourselves.
-
(Stephanie) So, that's a great point,
Nicole.
-
How do we get there, practically speaking?
-
How do we get to the point
-
where we detest sin?
-
We detest it. Someone help me out. Evelyn.
-
(Evelyn) I think we get to that point
-
when we love God,
-
and we know that by sinning,
-
or transgressing His law,
-
that separates us from Him.
-
And just that slight separation from Him
-
is devastating for us.
-
(Stephanie) Gladys.
-
(Gladys) Having a close relationship
with Him,
-
like Rodney was saying,
-
that his relationship with God
was so close
-
that he can say to Him, "Lord, forgive!
-
Lord, hear! Lord, act!"
-
because he knows who He's talking about.
-
It's just that close relationship
with Him.
-
The more you get closer to God,
-
the more you're going to shun evil.
-
(Stephanie) The things of this world...
-
(Stephanie, Gladys) Grow strangely dim.
-
(Stephanie) Dark, right? Derek.
-
(Derek) I imagine tears
-
running down his cheeks, "Oh, Lord!"
-
And I'm thinking, we don't
pray like that very much,
-
because it's not just that he knows God,
-
but he knows how much
-
God loves His people.
-
It's a very intense prayer,
-
and it's not, you know,
-
"Thank You for this nice day."
-
I mean, it's "Oh, Lord!"
-
And he knows he's not trying
-
to change God's heart
-
because God loves all of His people
-
with an everlasting love.
-
But it's like it's a heart cry,
-
and I find myself saying,
-
"God, I want to know you like that
-
and pray like that," not just for myself.
-
(Stephanie) The intercessory prayer,
-
and, Travis, we're going
-
to take your point,
-
but as Travis is going to share,
-
I'd like you to think
-
about other intercessory prayers
-
in the Bible that you recall. Travis.
-
(Travis) And while this is
an intercessory prayer,
-
in verses 17 and 18, the focus
-
really is on Daniel, chapter 8:14,
-
the restoration of the sanctuary
in Jerusalem.
-
The thing that made him faint
-
because he thinks this thing
-
is not going to be restored.
-
(Stephanie) Okay, so referring
-
back to chapter 8 in Daniel.
-
All right, can anyone share
-
another intercessory prayer
in the Bible? Alex?
-
(Alex) I think of Jesus in, I'd say,
-
in Luke 23, if you want to turn there.
-
(Stephanie) Would you like
to take us there?
-
(Alex) Yeah, Luke 23, verse 34.
-
(Stephanie) Luke 23, verse 34,
-
and what does the Bible say?
-
(Alex) Okay, I'll be reading
-
from the King James Version:
-
So here's the Son of God,
-
and He's, you know, they're
crucifying Him;
-
they're killing Him on the cross,
-
and He's praying for them
-
on their behalf, at a time like that.
-
(Derek) It shows you
-
that an intercessory prayer
-
doesn't have to be long.
-
(Stephanie) Exactly.
-
(Derek) It's one sentence, right?
-
But you sense that same intensity
and passion.
-
(Stephanie) Yes, oh to have that
as we pray. Shaina.
-
(Shaina) Another intercessory prayer
-
is in Exodus, chapter 32, verses 11 to 14.
-
(Stephanie) All right, Exodus,
-
chapter 32, 11 through 14,
-
and you're saying that this is
-
another example of intercessory prayer?
-
All right, would you like
-
to read that for us?
-
(Shaina) Sure, I'll be reading
-
from the King James Version:
-
(Stephanie) Again we hear intercession,
-
"Remember who You are;
-
this is Your people, God." Abigail.
-
(Abigail) There is another one;
-
Moses intercedes for the people
-
in Numbers 14:17-19.
-
(Stephanie) All right, let's go there.
-
Would you read that for us?
-
(Abigail) Yes, and I'll be reading
-
from the New Living Translation:
-
(Stephanie) What do you notice there?
-
He's referring back to the character
of God? All right.
-
How is it possible
-
to offer intercessory prayer with joy,
-
even though you do not see
-
the outcome of that prayer? Kenneth.
-
(Kenneth) I think Daniel says something
-
in the chapter, verse 4 of chapter 9,
-
where he says that, "You are
-
a covenant-keeping God."
-
God keeps His covenants
-
because He is the One
-
who made a covenant, not us with Him.
-
And He is faithful,
-
so whenever we seek Him,
-
and then we ask Him
-
because we know He is a faithful God,
-
He will always keep His covenant.
-
(Stephanie) So the joy is in Jesus,
-
not in the circumstances
-
or what we can see?
-
(Derek) I'm thinking
-
of the Scripture song, Stephanie,
we've been singing.
-
When he's going, "Blessed
-
be the name of God,"
-
he's not seen any evidence,
-
apart from the faithfulness of God,
-
that he's got the right dream
-
and the right interpretation.
-
(Stephanie) That's right.
-
(Derek) He's going to find that out
in just a few minutes
-
when he goes before the king.
-
But there's this, like, total confidence
-
in a God who loves us,
-
that he's already rejoicing.
-
And what that illustrates is,
-
"I know who is in charge
-
of the outcome - God -
-
so I'm going to praise Him ahead of time."
-
(Stephanie) He had a praise session,
-
and then he went and delivered
-
the message to the king.
-
Let's see what the response is
-
to Daniel's prayer here
-
in Daniel, chapter 9.
-
We're going to look at Daniel, chapter 9,
-
verses 20 through 23,
-
and, Kim, would you read that for us?
-
(Kim) Sure, I'll be reading
-
from the New King James Version,
-
Daniel, chapter 9, verses 20 to 23:
-
(Stephanie) What encouragement
-
do you find in Daniel's testimony?
-
And, by the way, this is a heavenly being
-
that is having a conversation
-
with Daniel, all right; go ahead, Nancy.
-
(Nancy) As soon as he called to God,
-
the prayer was answered.
-
He sent Gabriel just like that.
-
Heaven is listening attentively to us;
God loves us.
-
(Stephanie) Nicole.
-
(Nicole) In all the prayers we read
-
just in the last segment
-
and just this segment,
-
it seems like when you have
-
that fervent desire to know
-
what God wants you to do,
-
and you pray to Him in earnest,
-
He speaks to you right then.
-
I mean, you don't have to wait...
-
I mean, some may have to wait a long time,
-
but in these examples,
-
right when they were done
with their prayers,
-
somehow God came and told them
-
what was needed for that time.
-
That's true intercession.
-
(Stephanie) That's awesome. Kenneth.
-
(Kenneth) There's a key phrase he uses.
-
It says, "This being was caused
-
to fly swiftly to reach out to him."
-
You know, like, it tells you
-
how much God cares about you.
-
God doesn't use snail mail,
-
He uses express mail, you know, immediate.
-
(Stephanie) "Snail mail" being...
-
Put a postage stamp on the letter
and send it.
-
(Kenneth) But immediate...
-
(Stephanie) Immediate.
-
God is in the business
-
of answering prayers.
-
The question is, why are we
-
so reluctant to petition
-
His throne of grace?
-
That's not a question
-
to answer here today.
-
(Derek) You know the word, Stephanie,
-
"You are greatly beloved,"
-
and immediately I think,
-
"God so loved the world."
-
That's not just the feeling of Heaven
-
for one man or woman.
-
But imagine an angel coming to you
-
and saying, "You're greatly beloved."
-
You know, I'd just have to use
-
my favorite Hebrew word.
-
(Derek, Team) Hallelujah!
-
(Derek) I mean, that is a breakthrough
-
for so many people
-
even watching Hope Sabbath School today,
-
is to understand how greatly beloved
they are by God.
-
(Stephanie) Somebody needs to know that.
-
(Derek) That's right.
-
(Stephanie) Someone needs to know that.
-
There is a vision that the Bible speak of
-
in these verses that Daniel
-
was seeking to understand.
-
Can you tell me what that vision was?
Travis.
-
(Travis) Well, some might say
-
that it was the vision of Daniel 8,
-
but actually in Daniel 8,
-
almost the whole vision was explained,
-
but it was specifically the 2,300 days
-
in Daniel, chapter 8, verse 14,
-
that he didn't have an understanding of.
-
(Stephanie) All right, so, let's go
-
to Daniel, chapter 8, verse 14 and 27.
-
And, Nancy, would you read that for us?
-
Daniel, chapter 8, verses 14 and 27,
-
this is the one piece of that vision
-
that did not receive an interpretation
-
at the time - go ahead.
-
(Nancy) I'm reading
-
from the New King James Version, verse 14:
-
And then verse 27:
-
(Stephanie) So, he was astonished why?
-
(Gladys) Perhaps he had
-
Jeremiah's prophecy about the 70 years,
-
and like we said at the beginning,
-
he was probably thinking
-
it's about coming to an end.
-
And then he receives this new meaning,
2,300.
-
He was like, "What is that?"
-
Another number, basically, to add.
-
So he might be a little bit confused,
-
"What is this all about?"
-
(Stephanie) So he potentially thought
-
the captivity time would be extended
-
instead of the 70 years. Travis.
-
(Travis) I think the sanctuary service,
-
what it pointed forward to
-
meant so much to Daniel,
-
it was just like being
-
in the presence of God,
by the sanctuary.
-
He knew that God came to dwell with him.
-
We found that out in Moses' day,
-
that, that's why He had
-
the sanctuary built,
-
was so that He could dwell
with His people.
-
And He just looked so forward
-
to being close to God
-
and living with God again.
-
And all of a sudden, "What?
-
It's taken away from me?
-
It's, like, almost here? I want this now."
-
And I imagine it's like losing
-
a best friend, "What?!" you know...
-
(Stephanie) So he's on the brink
-
of giving the interpretation.
-
Let's see what the Bible says in verse 24.
-
And, Rodney, if you
-
would read that for us.
-
Daniel, chapter 9, verse 24,
-
which is really just a continuation
-
of that interpretation
-
from Daniel, chapter 8.
-
(Rodney) I'm reading
-
from the New King James Version:
-
(Stephanie) So, Gabriel is bringing in
-
this time frame of 70 weeks.
-
According to prophetic time,
-
how many years is that?
-
So do some quick calculations.
-
(Derek, Stephanie) 70 times 7.
-
(Stephanie, Team) 490 years.
-
(Stephanie) And it says
-
that it was determined.
-
What does that mean literally, determined?
-
(Gladys) It's been separated;
-
it has been set apart.
-
(Stephanie) It's been cut off, right?
-
Cut off from what?
-
(Gladys, Rodney) From the larger piece.
-
(Stephanie) From the larger time period,
which was the...?
-
(Stephanie, Team) 2,300 years.
-
(Stephanie) Okay, and this verse
-
is really giving us somewhat of a summary
-
of the next three verses, okay?
-
The next three verses
-
we're going to break out
-
some of the details.
-
So let's go to verses 25 and 26,
-
and, Travis, if you would
read that for us,
-
Daniel, chapter 9, verses 25 and 26.
-
(Travis) And I'll be reading
-
from the New King James Version:
-
(Stephanie) All right, so, in verse 24
-
we talked about the 70 weeks.
-
In verse 25, we have a starting point
-
for the 70 weeks, right?
-
When was that starting point?
-
(Gladys) When King Darius sent the decree
-
that the captives will go
back to Jerusalem.
-
(Stephanie) So, Artaxerxes had a decree
-
that the Jews would go back
-
and rebuild Jerusalem.
-
When was that? 457 BC, all right.
-
So, if we know the beginning
of the 70 weeks,
-
we'll know the beginning
-
of the 2300-day prophecy, right?
-
(Derek) I think the fact
-
that that is so important -
-
Ezra, chapter 4, actually records
the whole decree -
-
when you see that whole decree,
-
you think, "There must be something
-
really significant about this decree."
-
Because there were some other times
-
they were given permission to go home,
-
but with this one, it's like,
-
the whole thing's written down,
-
like, "Mark this decree well."
-
Now, at that time,
-
certainly not everybody realized
-
how important it was,
-
but I think Ezra was obedient,
-
and he wrote down the details
of the decree
-
because that's a historical moment.
-
It's not like, "somewhere, sometime."
-
A specific king makes a specific decree
-
in a specific year, and that's crucial
-
for giving us that starting point
-
for the 2,300-year prophecy.
-
(Stephanie) Thank you. Definitely.
-
Daniel, chapter 9, verses 25 and 26,
-
in addition to giving us
-
the time when it starts,
-
it also broke down
-
just the first how many weeks?
-
The first seven plus three score and two,
-
so, 69 weeks, that's what it's looking at.
-
So, if I take 69 weeks times 7,
-
how many years do I get?
-
We're looking at prophetic time.
-
(Stephanie, Team) 483 years.
-
(Stephanie) So, 457 BC,
-
483 years from there,
-
what does that take us to? 27 AD.
-
All right, what happened in 27 AD?
-
(Team) The baptism of Jesus.
-
(Stephanie) Jesus was baptized;
-
what does that signify?
-
(Travis, Gladys) Anointing.
-
(Stephanie) The anointing,
-
and we can see that
in Luke and Acts, right?
-
(Derek) I'm thinking
-
a lot of things happen in 27 AD,
-
but the question is,
-
what happened related to Messiah?
-
Because that's what this prophecy
-
is all about, the plan of salvation.
-
And it's interesting that Dr. Luke
specifically says,
-
"It's in the fifteenth year
-
of the reign of Tiberius," and it's like,
-
does it really matter to us
-
what year Jesus was baptized?
-
Shouldn't we just say,
-
"Well, He was baptized,
-
and we should be baptized,
as His followers"?
-
The answer is, "It does matter,"
-
because that is a key point
in this prophecy.
-
And so Luke says specifically,
-
"Fifteenth year of the reign
-
of Tiberius Caesar.
-
(Stephanie) Thank you. Travis.
-
(Travis) And another key point
-
is found in Matthew 3:15
-
when John the Baptist
-
wants Jesus to baptize him,
-
and Jesus said, "No, permit it to be so
-
for righteousness to be fulfilled."
-
So there's a fulfillment
-
of time going to happen.
-
Jesus becomes the Messiah,
-
the anointed Messiah.
-
(Derek) He's already the Messiah,
-
if I can correct that.
-
He doesn't become Messiah; He is Messiah,
-
but He begins His work as Messiah.
-
And, of course, the anointing
-
of the Spirit at His baptism
-
is all like you said,
-
part of the fulfillment
-
of this great prophecy.
-
(Stephanie) I'd like us to turn...
-
I know it's not in your outline,
-
but let's turn to Galatians,
-
chapter 4, verses 4 and 5,
-
because we're talking about the timing
-
and how detailed the timing was
-
when events took place.
-
Galatians, chapter 4, verses 4 and 5,
-
and, John, would you read that for us?
-
(John) Sure, from the King James it says:
-
(Stephanie) "When the fullness
-
of time had come."
-
There is no haste nor delay
-
in what God does; it's always on time.
-
Going back to Daniel, chapter 9,
-
our last verse is verse 27,
-
and, Nicole, do you have that?
-
Would you read that for us?
-
(Nicole) The New King James Version
-
of Daniel 9:27 says:
-
(Stephanie) All right, so, 25 and 26
-
talk about the 69 weeks of the 70, right?
-
Verse 27 talks about that last week.
-
What's going to happen
-
in the middle of the week?
-
(Team) Messiah cut off.
-
(Stephanie) "The Messiah
shall be cut off."
-
If we're looking at the middle
-
of the week, that last week,
-
that would be AD 31.
-
What took place in AD 31
-
as it relates to the Messiah?
-
(Gladys) Jesus died.
-
(Stephanie) The cross, Jesus died
-
right on time, perfect timing.
-
Three-and-a-half years later,
-
what took place in AD 34?
-
(Derek) According to the prophecy,
Stephanie,
-
the end of this time
-
for the Jewish people.
-
So that means, as we see
-
the book of Acts taking
-
the gospel to the Gentiles,
-
and certainly you've got the event
-
of Stephen being martyred
-
and the persecution that leads
-
to the people going everywhere to share,
-
is clearly a fulfillment of the conclusion
-
of the 70-week prophecy.
-
(Stephanie) Yes, beautiful!
-
Do you see the connection?
-
No detail is missed.
-
God is very intentional.
-
Now, we're just going to recap.
-
We said that the 2300 days,
-
it started at the same time
-
as the 70 weeks, right?
-
When did it start?
-
When was that decree? 457 BC.
-
Twenty-three hundred years after that
takes us to...?
-
(Stephanie, Team) 1844.
-
This is the antitypical Day of Atonement
-
and the cleansing
-
of the heavenly sanctuary.
-
And we spoke about that
-
in a previous lesson already.
-
What does this prophecy...
-
Why is that so important to us today?
-
Does it even impact us today? Travis.
-
(Travis) Because we're living
-
in the time of judgment.
-
Jesus is coming soon,
-
and we see that in Revelation 14
-
where it says, "The hour
-
of His judgment has come,"
-
and that's the message to the world.
-
Jesus is coming soon; He loves you
-
with an unfailing, immeasurable love,
-
and He is coming back soon for His people.
-
And He just wants us to come to Him.
-
(Stephanie) Yes. Evelyn.
-
(Evelyn) If we wanted any more proof
-
to know if we're in the Last Times,
this is it.
-
I mean, the angel told Daniel,
-
"These will come to happen
-
in the Last Days."
-
This last date, 1844,
-
of the 2,300 years has passed.
-
So now we know for a fact we are
-
in the Last Days of Christ's coming.
-
(Stephanie) What hope,
-
in the last few seconds
-
of our study today,
-
what hope have you found
-
in this lesson as we've studied?
-
(Travis) You can trust Jesus.
-
(Stephanie) You can trust Jesus.
-
(Abigail) God is always on time,
and He will come back.
-
(Stephanie) God is always on time,
-
and He will come back. Gladys.
-
(Gladys) He is faithful to His Word.
-
(Stephanie) He's faithful
to His Word. Nicole.
-
(Nicole) Because of Him,
-
we're going to win; we're going
to win this battle.
-
(Stephanie) Amen. We are going to win.
-
Praise God for His faithfulness.
-
Aren't you glad we have the Word of God?
-
(Team) Amen!
-
(Stephanie) We've got to share it
with more people.
-
Thank you for studying.
-
(Derek) Thank you, Stephanie.
-
And there is so much more
we have to learn.
-
We're not done with the series.
-
We've got chapter 10, 11 and 12,
-
but I hope you've learned
-
the most important lesson
through this book:
-
There's a Most High God who rules,
-
and He will accomplish
-
His perfect plan of salvation.
-
And He wants you to be a part of that.
-
He wants you to make a decision today.
-
Maybe you've not made that decision yet
-
to say, "God, will You save me?
-
Will You forgive my sins?
-
Will You have a place for me
-
in Your eternal Kingdom?"
-
I want to personally invite you
-
to make that decision today
-
while there's still time; let's pray.
-
Father in Heaven, there may be
-
someone today listening to our prayer
-
who needs to make that decision,
-
"God, will you save me?
-
We're living in the Last Days.
-
Will You be my Savior
-
and soon-coming King?"
-
I thank You that You're touching hearts
-
right now by Your Holy Spirit.
-
And we, too, say thank You, Jesus,
-
that You have saved us,
-
and for Your amazing plan of salvation,
-
that You love us with an everlasting love.
-
May we live a life that would honor You
-
and be a blessing to those around us.
-
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
-
(Team) Amen.
-
(Derek) Well, we're not done
with our series,
-
but take the truths you've learned
-
and go out now and be a blessing
-
to those around you.
-
♪ theme music ♪